Pomegranate tree named ‘EMEK’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct pomegranate variety of  Punica granatum  named ‘EMEK’, particularly characterized by self-pollinating and self-fertile medium-sized tree with vigorous growth; good fruit productivity; medium-sized, mature fruit with uniform, dark pink to red skin color, red arils; and mature fruit which is of good eating quality, sweet flavor and good juice production.

Botanical name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Punica granatum L.

Variety denomination: ‘EMEK’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of a pomegranate tree, botanically known as Punica granatum L. of the Lythraceae family, and hereinafter referred to by the variety denomination ‘EMEK’.

The new Punica granatum ‘EMEK’ is a product of a controlled breeding program conducted by the inventors, Doron Holland, Irit Bar-Ya'akov and Kamel Hatib in the Yizre'el Valley, Israel. The objective of the breeding program was to develop a new Punica granatum variety with vigorous production of mature fruit and good eating quality.

Pomegranate seedlings of the inventors' pomegranate collection were planted in the Yizre'el Valley, Israel. The new Punica granatum ‘EMEK’ originated from open pollination of an unknown, unpatented Punica granatum variety. The new Punica granatum ‘EMEK’ was observed in 2003 and selected in 2006 by the inventors in a controlled environment in the Yizre'el Valley, Israel.

Asexual propagation of the new Punica granatum ‘EMEK’ by cuttings was first performed in February of 2006 in the Yizre'el Valley of Israel, and has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for the new variety is firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of asexual propagation. The new variety propagates true-to-type. Resulting plants of the new Punica granatum were planted in 2007 in the Yizre'el Valley.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be characteristics of ‘EMEK’ which in combination distinguish this pomegranate tree as a new, unique and distinct variety:

-   -   1. self-pollinating and self-fertile medium-sized tree with         vigorous growth;     -   2. Good fruit productivity;     -   3. Early ripening with harvest of mature fruit in mid-August in         the Yizre'el Valley;     -   4. Medium-sized mature fruit with dark pink to red skin color         and red arils; and     -   5. Mature fruit which is of good eating quality, sweet flavor         and good juice production.

Of the many commercial varieties known to the present inventors, the most similar in comparison to the new Punica granatum ‘EMEK’ is Punica granatum ‘WONDERFUL’ (unpatented), in the following characteristics described in Table 1:

TABLE 1 Comparison Variety New Variety ‘WONDERFUL’ Characteristic ‘EMEK’ (unpatented) Ripening time Early (mid August) Late (beginning of October) Mature fruit skin color Dark pink to red Red Fruit size Medium Large Taste Sweet Sweet-sour

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Punica granatum ‘EMEK’, showing the colors as true as is reasonably possible with colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describe the color of ‘EMEK’.

FIG. 1 shows a side view perspective of a typical 2 year old shrub of ‘EMEK’.

FIG. 2 shows a side view perspective of a typical trunk of ‘EMEK’.

FIG. 3 shows a close-up view of typical fruit on a branch of ‘EMEK’.

FIG. 4 shows a close-up view of typical leaves of ‘EMEK’.

FIG. 5 shows a close-up view of typical hermaphrodite flower of ‘EMEK’.

FIG. 6 shows various close-up views of typical mature fruit of ‘EMEK’, illustrating the skin and arils color and fruit shape.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new Punica granatum ‘EMEK’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype of the new variety may vary with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity, and day length without any change in the genotype of the pomegranate tree.

The aforementioned photographs, together with the following observations, measurements and values describe trees of ‘EMEK’ as grown in the pomegranate farm in the Yizre'el Valley of Israel, under conditions which closely approximate those generally used in commercial practice. Seedlings of ‘EMEK’ were planted in clay grumusol (vertisol) soil at an elevation of about 100 meters above sea level, at lat. 32°42′N, long. 35°11′E. Yizre'el Valley is characterized by a Mediterranean subtropical climate, with an average annual rainfall of about 580 mm concentrated from November through March. Mean diurnal minimum temperature in January is 6° C. (43° F.), and mean diurnal maximum temperature in July is 33° C. (91° F.).

Unless otherwise stated, the detailed botanical description includes observations, measurements and values based on two-year-old ‘EMEK’ trees grown in the pomegranate farm in the Yizre'el Valley, Israel from 2006 to 2008. Quantified measurements are expressed as an average of measurements taken from a number of trees of ‘EMEK’. The measurements of any individual tree, or any group of trees, of the new variety may vary from the stated average.

Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.), 2001 edition, except where general colors of ordinary significance are used. Color values were taken under daylight conditions at approximately late morning in Yizre'el Valley, Israel.

All of the trees of ‘EMEK’, insofar as they have been observed, have been consistent in all the characteristics described below.

-   Classification:     -   -   Botanical.—Punica granatum L. -   Parentage: Open-pollination of unknown, unpatented, Punica granatum     variety. -   Propagation: Cuttings. -   Growing conditions:     -   -   Light intensities.—Full sunlight.         -   Fertilization.—A level of about 250 Kg/ha N and 300 Kg/ha K             per year and about 60 Kg/ha P every three years.         -   Growth regulators.—Not used.         -   Pruning or trimming requirements.—Winter pruning and removal             of suckers during summer. -   Tree: -   Type: Deciduous     -   -   Age.—Observed trees were two years old.         -   Vigor.—Good.         -   Form.—Upright and spreading, medium sized tree with one             trunk.         -   Branching habit.—Main branches angle is up to 45° with             respect to trunk if allowed to grow naturally.         -   Production.—Good.         -   Size at maturity.—Height: 2.5 m to 2.6 m. Spread: 2.3 m to             2.4 m.         -   Trunk.—Height (up to leaders): 50 cm to 60 cm. Diameter (15             cm above ground): 26.0 cm±0.6 cm. Texture: Rough. Bark             color: Brown, RHS N200 C, and grey-brown, RHS 199 D. Trunk             lenticels: None.         -   Branches.—Number per tree: 3 or 4 depending on pruning.             Length: 2 to 3 m. Diameter (about 10 cm above branching):             17.6 cm±1.0 cm. Growth per season: On average, branches grow             up to 2 m per growing season. New branchlets form, radiating             from the older, primary branch. Surface: New growth:             Semi-rough. Mature: Rough. Color: New growth: Grey-brown,             RHS 199A. Mature: Greyed-green, RHS 191A. Internode length:             60 mm to 70 mm. Internode diameter: 3 mm to 4 mm. Branch             spines: Length: 3 mm to 5 mm. Width: About 1 mm. Color:             Brown Red RHS 175 A. Branch lenticels: None.         -   Spur.—Present. Distance between each spur: Varies. Thickness             of each spur: About 3 mm to 4 mm. Number of fruits per spur:             1 or 2. -   Foliage:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, pairs alternately crossing at right             angles, petiolated.         -   Leaf Blade:—Size (fully developed Leaf Blade): Length: 6.3             cm±0.2 cm. Width: 2.2 cm±0.1 cm. Overall shape:             Oblanceolate. Base shape: Acuminate. Apex shape: Obtuse.             Margin: Entire. Texture: Upper surface: Smooth. Lower             surface: Smooth. Color (mature leaves): Upper surface:             Green, RHS 137 A. Lower surface: Green, RHS 137 C. Color             (immature leaves): Upper surface: Green RHS 137A. Lower             surface: Green, between RHS 144 A and RHS 144 B.         -   Venation.—Type: Pinnate. Color: Green midrib, RHS 137 C,             about 1 mm in thickness.         -   Petiole.—Length: 5.0 mm±0.2 mm. Diameter: About 1.0 mm.             Color: Green, RHS 137 C.         -   Stipule.—Exstipulate.         -   Glands.—None. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Time of flowering:—Full flowering beginning of May in             Yizre'el Valley, Israel.         -   Flowering period:—About one month.         -   Fragrance.—None.         -   Inflorescence.—Length: Up to 15 cm. Type: Hermaphrodite             flowers are born single or clustered. The flowers can be             found on the same plant in various shapes and size. There             are vase-shaped flowers with fully developed reproductive             organs and bell-shaped flowers which have undeveloped             reproductive organs, and between these two types there are             various flower shapes and stages of development. The flower             described herein is a fully developed flower.         -   Flower diameter.—45 mm to 50 mm.         -   Flower depth.—32 mm to 42 mm.         -   Buds.—Number per spur: 1 or 2. Shape: Obovate. Length: About             15 mm. Width: 8 mm to 10 mm. Color: Dark orange-red, closest             to RHS 34 A. Scales: Typical to species, not distinguishing.         -   Calyx.—Depth: 50 mm to 55 mm. Diameter (funnel): 31 mm to             43 mm. Attitude: Semi-erect to horizontal. Form: Narrow             funnel, with acute apex and thickened at tip. Calyx lobes             length: 10 mm to 12 mm. Calyx lobes width: 7 mm to 9 mm.             Color: Dark orange-red, closest to RHS 33 B.         -   Petals.—Number per flower: 5 to 7. Size: Length: 20 mm to             23 mm. Width: 17 mm to 20 mm. Overall shape: Elliptical.             Apex shape: Rounded. Base shape: Acute. Surface (upper             surface): Smooth. Surface (lower surface): Smooth. Margin:             Entire, undulated. Mature Color: Upper surface: Orange-red,             RHS 33 B. Lower surface: Orange-red, RHS 33 B.         -   Sepals.—Number per flower: 5 to 7. Size: Length: 10 mm to             12 mm. Width: 7 mm to 9 mm. Overall shape: Triangular. Apex             shape: Very acute. Base shape: Fused. Surface (upper             surface): Smooth. Surface (lower surface): Smooth. Margin:             Entire. Mature Color: Outer surface: Orange-red, RHS 33 B.             Inner surface: Orange-red, RHS 33 A.         -   Pedicle.—Flowers are sessile, no pedicle. -   Fruit:     -   -   Keeping quality.—The fruit keeps well on the tree. It can be             stored in cold temperature conditions at above 7° C. for             about 4 weeks with good eating quality.         -   Maturity when described.—Ripe for commercial harvesting and             shipment; mid-August in Yizre'el Valley, Israel.         -   Maturity period after full flowering:—About 3½ months after             full flowering, beginning of May in Yizre'el Valley, Israel.         -   Date of first picking (harvest).—About August 15^(th) in             Yizre'el Valley, Israel in 2008.         -   Type.—Berry.         -   General shape.—Rounded, nearly uniform, symmetrical.         -   Apex shape.—Prominent crown of calyx segments at apex.         -   Base shape.—Symmetrical base, slightly flattened near stem             end.         -   Suture.—None.         -   Average weight.—About 380 g.         -   Fruit size.—Average length (axial plane, without crown): 86             mm±1.0 mm. Average diameter (widest point, right angle to             axial plane) 273 mm±3.0 mm.         -   Crown.—Height: 34 mm±1.0 mm. Circumference: 89 mm±2.0 mm.             Lobes number: 6 or 7 per fruit. Lobes position: half-closed.         -   Skin:—Thickness: Medium. Surface: Smooth and shiny. Tendency             to crack: None. Ground color: Pinkish-orange. Blush Color:             Dark pink to red. Percentage of skin surface with overcolor             color: Uniformly spread over entire skin.         -   Arils:—Texture: Smooth and shiny. Length: 10 mm to 13 mm.             Diameter: 7 mm to 9 mm. Weight (per aril): About 0.36 g.             Volume (per aril): About 0.32 cm³. Color at maturity: Dark             red, RHS 45 A. Separation: Easy. Septum: Thin, transparent.             Ripening: Uniform. Fibers: Not noticeable. Aroma: None.             Eating quality: Very good. Juice production: Good. Flavor:             Sweet.         -   Seeds.—Overall shape: Ovate. Apex shape: Acute. Base shape:             Rounded. Length: About 8 mm. Dry weight (per seed): About             0.024 g. Dry volume (per seed): About 0.05 cm³. Hardness:             Relatively soft. Color (dry): White, RHS 155 C. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Androecium.—Stamen: Number per flower: Numerous. Anther:             Length: 7 mm to 9 mm. Color: Yellow, RHS 4 A. Filaments:             Length: 7 mm to 9 mm. Color: Dark orange, RHS 33 A.             Pollination Requirements: None, ‘EMEK’ is self-fertile and             self-pollinating.         -   Gynoecium.—Pistils: Number: One. Length: 5 mm to 7 mm.             Diameter: About 1 mm. Color: Dark orange, RHS 32 B. Stigmas:             Size: Very small. Color: Greenish-yellow, RHS 1 A. Ovary:             Shape: Conical. Length: 10 mm to 13 mm. Diameter: 13 mm to             20 mm. Color: Orange, RHS 25C. Pubescence: None. -   Market: Fresh market and food, juice and dietary supplement     manufacturing. -   Usage: Fruit and extract. -   Disease/pest resistance: No atypical resistance has been noted. -   Disease/pest susceptibility: No atypical susceptibility has been     noted. -   Winter hardiness: Tolerant to temperatures down to −3° C. without     observed damage to wood and buds of dormant pomegranate trees, under     prevailing local conditions. 

1. A new and distinct pomegranate variety of Punica granatum plant named ‘EMEK’, as illustrated and described herein. 